Separation of tervalent rare earths and scandium from aluminium, iron(iii), titanium(iv), and other elements by cation-exchange chromatography in hydrochloric acid-ethanol

Abstract Tervalent rare earths and Sc are separated from the silicate-forming elements Al, Fe(III), Mg and Ti(IV), and also from Mn(II), U(VI), Be, Ga, In(III), Tl(III), Bi(III), Ni, Zn, Cu(II), Cd and Pb by cation-exchange chromatography. The other elements are eluted with 3.0 M HC1 containing 50% ethanol from a column of 60 ml of AG50W-X8 resin (200–400 mesh) while the rare earths are retained. Separation factors are larger than in aqueous hydrochloric acid. Th, Zr, Hf, Ba, Sr, Ca, K, and Rb are the only elements which accompany the rare earths group, but these can easily be separated by other methods which are described. Relevant distribution coefficients, elution curves and accurate results of quantitative separations of synthetic mixtures are presented.